The first half of 2007 has been an exciting and challenging time at Hartford Bond. In May, we said goodbye to former Bond Chief, David Akers. Dave brought his considerable experience to the Hartford in 2003 and led us out of a difficult market cycle and into the best results our unit has ever experienced.
Dave made the decision to leave The Hartford to support his wife's career and to pursue his other passion-making the world a better place for others. He recently let me know that he has agreed to become the Pastor at a small church south of Portland, Oregon. He is a friend and a leader and we will miss him. Our goal is simply to continue executing on the strategic plans we implemented during Dave's tenure, while constantly striving to improve and serve you better.
During this same period of time we have set about building and deploying an entirely new set of tools for our underwriters that will allow us to transact our business in a nearly paperless environment. Our new EDM (Electronic Document Management) system allows our underwriters to work electronically internally and externally and will allow us to function more efficiently and effectively. We have already rolled out the system in several of our locations and are pleased with the outcome. Feel free to send us submissions or correspond with us via email or fax. By doing so, you will be helping us serve you better.
We continue to aggressively train and develop the Hartford Bond team. We believe our competitive advantage is to have a field force made up of people you want to do business with. Hartford Bond is committed to hiring, training and developing our workforce from the ground up. We are proud to have some of the finest people in the industry.
The Hartford Bond unit of Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. has enjoyed good results for the first 2 quarters of 2007. While times are good, we at Hartford Bond see challenges on the horizon and are preparing for them. Our economy is experiencing what is being characterized as a "soft landing". Inflation, oil prices and interest rates are adding complexity to the picture. Trouble in the mortgage business has contributed to a housing correction that has had ramifications for overall construction. All of this is compounded by a less than clear, long-term outlook.
Our task is simple. We need to listen to you and our clients thoroughly, underwrite your business thoughtfully, provide world class service, and remain vigilant. After all, great companies perform well regardless of market and economic cycles because they anticipate change and are prepared for it.
I am excited about the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead for our company and would appreciate hearing any ideas you may have about how we can serve you better. We are committed to our agency partners and look forward to working with you for years to come.
All the best,
The first half of 2007 has been an exciting and challenging time at Hartford Bond. In May, we said goodbye to former Bond Chief, David Akers. Dave brought his considerable experience to the Hartford in 2003 and led us out of a difficult market cycle and into the best results our unit has ever experienced.